Gus Malzahn not only brought his spread offense to Arkansas State, he also picked up a piece that helped make it successful at Auburn when running back Mike Dyer decided to transfer after his sophomore season.

But Malzahn, Auburn’s offensive coordinator the previous three seasons, said Monday that he doesn’t expect to have Dyer’s services this season.

Arkansas State requested a waiver to allow Dyer to play this season—he’s an Arkansas native—but it doesn’t look as if the NCAA will grant it. NCAA rules state that if a player transfers from one FBS school to another, the player has to sit out a season unless granted an NCAA waiver.

“I really expect him to play (at Arkansas State in 2013),” Malzahn said in reference to the possibility Dyer could leave for the NFL after the 2012 season. “He likes college football. He does have a goal to play at the next level, but he likes it here. He’s closer to home. We’re probably an hour and 45 minutes from Little Rock. He likes it here, he likes his teammates and I really expect him to be on the field (in 2013).”

Dyer ran for 1,093 and five TDs as a freshman and was named the MVP of the BCS national championship game when Auburn defeated Oregon, 22-19. Last season, he gained 1,242 yards and scored 10 times. He left Auburn with 2,335 rushing yards—10th best in school history.